DETECTIVES who were searching the pools at Ellowes Hall Wood for in the hunt for missing Gornal teen Natalie Putt have come away empty handed.

West Midlands Police started searching the Lower Gornal woodlands on Monday, following up on information received after the examination of four graves in Ruiton Cemetery earlier this year.

Natalie, who would now be be 31, went missing on a trip to local shops in 2003, leaving behind her 11-week-old son Rhys.

But despite nothing being found in the latest search, officers say there are other areas of interest in the woodland, which is likely to result in further searches being conducted “in the very near future”.

Detective Superintendent Tom Chisholm, from the force’s homicide unit, said: “Any searches of an area this size and after such a passage of time have significant complexities attached to it.

“The investigation team continues to work closely with a range of specialist search advisors and we expect to be back at the location at some point.

“As part of the on-going investigation I would like to appeal to anyone who was using the woods from September 2003 up to the end of 2004. We know that it was frequently used by dog walkers.

“During that time they may have seen one or more people acting in an usual manner that was out of context for the location, but dismissed it at the time.

“I would urge them to come forward, it doesn’t matter how insignificant they think it may be. This may be the missing piece of the jigsaw that will lead us to finding Natalie.

“The interest in our search activity has resulted in someone coming forward with information that is being actively followed up.

“This was a case of not realising the relevance of what they had seen many years ago. It wasn’t until they were encouraged by friends to come forward that they did, the information is being taken seriously.”

Police confirmed Natalie’s family have been fully updated with the latest developments and continue to be supported by specialist officers.